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Article: Chronic sinus problems linked to fungus; Mayo Clinic finds that body's fight against fungus irritates nasal passages.(NEWS)
- Article from:
- Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)
- Article date:
- September 10, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Star Tribune Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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1/3 Researchers at the Mayo Clinic say they have found the cause of most cases of chronic sinus infection, which affects 37 million Americans.
The culprit: fungus.
The researchers discovered that the body's attempt to fight off fungus in the nasal and sinus membranes can backfire in sensitive patients, irritating the nasal passages and causing the problem.
They said the research could pave the way for the first effective treatment for sinusitis, a chronic inflammation of the membranes that causes headaches, runny noses, nasal congestion and loss of smell. Although antibiotics and over-the-counter decongestants are widely used to treat ...